St Mary's College Junior School | Reception to Year 6

The early years of learning are foundational. At St Mary's Junior School, we approach this time with care, intention and a deep understanding of each child.

From Reception to Year 6, students are welcomed into a nurturing, inclusive and faith-filled environment where curiosity is encouraged, individuality is honoured, and every child is genuinely known.

Within a vibrant all-girls setting, students begin their journey as confident, capable learners with a strong sense of belonging.

A School Within A School

At the heart of St Mary's College, our Junior School offers the warmth and connection of a smaller setting within a larger Reception to Year 12 community. Students benefit from close relationships with teachers and peers, while also engaging with the wider life of the College. Older students mentor younger girls, and transitions between year levels are supported and connected.

What Junior School Looks Like

From Reception, students enter an environment designed for discovery. Our approach blends explicit teaching with inquiry-based learning, creating a balanced and engaging experience that builds strong foundations in literacy and numeracy while fostering creativity and critical thinking.

As a Visible Learning College, we support students to take ownership of their learning, developing key dispositions such as resilience, reflection and a willingness to embrace challenge. Learning is personalised to meet the needs of each child, ensuring every student is supported to grow with confidence.

Specialist subjects are introduced throughout the Junior Years, including Italian, Technologies, Visual Arts, Music, Physical Education, Dance and Drama. Digital learning is thoughtfully integrated, with iPads used in the early years, transitioning to laptops and personal devices as students progress into Year 5.

Central to this experience is our commitment to strong relationships. Through our WRAP (Wellbeing, Relationships, Agency, Personal Agency) Program, teachers build meaningful connections with each student - ensuring every girl is known and supported.

Our Approach to Teaching Reading

Our Junior School classrooms deliver literacy instruction through evidence-based, research-informed practices, including the Science of Reading. This approach ensures all girls are supported in developing strong reading, writing, and language comprehension skills.

In Reception to Year 2, literacy is taught using the InitiaLit program, which provides a strong foundation in phonics, vocabulary, and early reading skills. From Years 3 to 6, this foundation is extended through the Playberry program, supporting continued development in reading, writing, and comprehension.

Our Inclusion Team provides a wide range of support both within and beyond the classroom through a Response to Intervention (RTI) model. This includes targeted programs such as Oral Language, MiniLit, and MacqLit, ensuring all learners are met where they are ready to learn.

Faith and Values

Our Catholic Dominican tradition is woven through all aspects of Junior School life. Students explore faith, justice and service in age-appropriate ways, guided by our values of community, justice and growth. These foundations shape not only how students learn, but how they understand their place in the world.

Out of School Hours Care (OSHC)

St Mary's offers Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) for Junior School students, providing a safe and supportive environment before and after school. For more details, please visit our OSHC page.

OSHC

Starting at St Mary's | Reception Enrolment

Each year, we welcome a new cohort of Reception students to St Mary's College. Children who turn five before 1 May are able to begin in Term 1. The College also offers a mid-year Reception intake for those turning five before 31 October.